On Sky
It’s top vs bottom, 58 points vs 6 points, world class vs championship class. It’s the perennially clichéd ‘David vs Goliath’ clash. With some betting chains having odds of 17/1 for a home win however, it would seem that David would need to be blindfolded and Goliath given an oozi gun for a more suitable analogy.
Vital Quotes:
Predictably, Mick McCarthy says his team aren’t planning on simply rolling over for the defending champions: ‘Performances have been good and the attitude has been excellent and if we work as hard as we have done, it might be us who beats Chelsea.
‘At some stage Chelsea will lose. It might be us, it might not, but it won’t be for the want of trying.’
Midfielder Tommy Miller accepts that Chelsea are clear favourites: ‘We are going to be big underdogs on Sunday and no one will expect us to get anything.
‘We have to try and match Chelsea. They have a team full of world-class players but we will give our all to try and get something out of the game.’
Sunderland Team News:
Sunderland welcome back Steven Caldwell and Gary Breen from suspension and McCarthy has already revealed they will both be thrown straight back into the starting eleven. Alan Stubbs and Neill Collins will no doubt feel slightly aggrieved at being dropped after solid displays last week against albeit lesser opposition.
Christian Bassila is back from injury but must make do with a place on the bench as McCarthy confirmed his starting eleven as the same side that took the field against Fulham.
Sunderland (from): Davis, Hoyte, Breen, Caldwell, D Collins, Lawrence, Whitehead, Miller, Arca, Stead, Le Tallec, Alnwick, Bassila, Nosworthy, Murphy, Welsh, Woods, Stubbs, N Collins.
Player to watch: Jon Stead
Still to get a goal this season, this fact has nonetheless not affected his ever-improving performances. He is one of the few players in a red and white shirt who may just be able to spring a surprise.
Chelsea Team News:
After a surprisingly close FA Cup encounter against Huddersfield Mourinho will welcome back most of his star players after a week’s rest. Frank Lampard, John Terry, Petr Cech, Claude Makelele and William Gallas all return while teenage midfielder Lassana Diarra remains in the squad after impressing against the Terriers, as does England Under-21 international Carlton Cole.
Michael Essien is still nursing an ankle injury, while Didier Drogba is missing due to his involvement in the African Nations Cup. His place is to be taken by Hernan Crespo.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Ferreira, Johnson, Gallas, Carvalho, Bridge, del Horno, Terry, Carvalho, Huth, Makelele, Lampard, Diarra, Gudjohnsen, Robben, Duff, Crespo, J Cole, C Cole, Wright-Phillips.
Player to watch: Eidur Gudjohnsen
He is set to make his 250th appearance for Chelsea, making him the second-highest overseas appearance maker for the Blues.
Match Facts & Stats
HEAD TO HEAD:
League: Sunderland 35 wins, Chelsea 44, Draws 20
Premiership: Sunderland 4 wins, Chelsea 6, Draws 1
Ref Watch:
Referee: Mark Halsey
Assistants: Richard West and Trevor Massey
4th Official: Michael Oliver
Match Prediction:
1-3
A valiant effort from Sunderland but nothing but a comfortable win for Chelsea can be foreseen.
Next Fixtures:
Sunderland: West Brom (A) 21/01/06
Chelsea: Charlton (H) 22/01/06
